Rebels set alight 4 coal trucks in Samangan

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Suspected militants torched four trucks transferring coal in Dara-i-Suf Bala district of northern Samangan province on Sunday, an official said.

Ahmad Ali Husaini, administrative chief of the district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the trucks were carrying coal from Shabashak coalmine to Dara-i-Suf district center when militants intercepted and torched them on the way in Chahar Awlia area this morning.

He accused the Taliban of the incident and said: “This group first destroyed a Kamaz truck with a rocket attack, set another truck on fire and partially damaged two other vehicles and took hostage their drivers.”

Husaini said the Taliban had torched a vehicle carrying goods for local shops in Chichal Kutal area of Dara-i-Suf Paeen district two days ago.

A year back, the rebel group torched nine coal trucks in the same area for not paying tax to the militants, he recalled.

A resident of Dara-i-Suf Bala district, who wished to go unnamed, said Taliban militants had previously warned truck drivers who transferred coal to pay them tax otherwise they would torch their vehicles.

The Taliban have not yet commented on the incident.

The coalmine in Dara-i-Suf Bala district is one of the biggest revenue source for the government. The government collected 2.5 billion afghanis in tax from the mine last year.

mds/ma